Heres a quick test using the 2 sided material. The model is based off af a coffee table I built awhile back. I’m also using the physical camera. The reference photo has much brighter environment light than the render but the render comes pretty close to what the table looks like when I have all the lights off in the room.
comments welcome.
-joe
Tell me more! 
I want one!
Here is the scene if you want to look at it:
http://www.joepizzini.com/VRAY/Light\_Box.ZIP
And here is a test to see how it handles objects behind it. The text v-ray is positioned just barley behind the stonne panels. This seems to be an efficient way to re-produce the effects of translucent marble.
As far as the actual table…the inner lighting system can be turned on and off with a small remote control. Its made of oak and onyx marble.
best,
-joe
Very nice
Thanks
Great !
Best regards,
nikki Candelero
Thanks for sharing the scene! I was trying to reproduce a very similar effect with some edge-lit onyx, and ended up just faking it with a painted projection light map after wrestling with the V-Ray translucency settings for quite a while.
This technique gives me hope!
The text v-ray is positioned just barley behind the stonne panels.
Just curious as to whether you are using this opportunity to change the word ‘barely’ to ‘barley’ to stay ‘tapped’ in to your name icon -Beer. Nice one.
Oh, and by the way, thanks for showing your 2 sided material test. Very nice, and instructive.
opps.
speaking of beer, im making a new batch of home brew this week. shud be done just in time for football.
-joe
i love beer. 
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
-Benjamin Franklin